21 developing her relationship with Winnie. The review of American culture is hoped
to help the writer understand the reasons behind Pearl’s behavior towards Winnie. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
22
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter covers three main parts; Subject Matter which is about the subject of the study, the novel The Kitchen God’s Wife itself, Approach of the
Study which explains the use of the socio-cultural approach to analyze the influence of society especially the culture toward the problems of this study, and
Method of the Study which clarifies the steps taken in doing the analysis.
A. Subject Matter
Amy Tan wrote The Kitchen God’s Wife 1991 as her second bestseller novel after succeeding with her first novel, The Joy Luck Club 1989. She also
wrote other novels such as The Moon Lady 1992, The Hundred Secret Senses 1995, The Bonesetters Daughter 2001, The Opposite of Fate 2003, and
Saving Fish from Drowning 2005. The Kitchen God’s Wife 1991 received
many appreciations from the publisher itself, the critics and the cus tomers. New York Times
proclaimed it as ‘A notable book of the year’ and Chicago Tribune affirmed it as The kind of novel that can be read and reread with enormous
pleasure. The Kitchen God’s Wife
was published in 1991 by Ballantine Books, Random House, Inc. in New York. It consists of 26 chapters in 532 pages. Part
one which consists of 3 chapters tells a story from Pearl’s point of view. She talks about her relationship with Winnie in the present time. Part two which includes
23 chapter 4 until chapter 24 tells about Winnie’s past life in China. The story is
being told from Winnie’s point of view. She describes her life in China from her childhood until she gets married and the reason why she immigrates to America.
This part reveals the differences of cultural background that later influence her mother-daughter relationship with Pearl which are very important for this study.
The last part containing Chapter 25 and 26 sets the end of the story signified by the reconciliation between Winnie and Pearl after revealing the
secrets which they have hide for a long time and for the compensation is their relationship becomes better.
There are many characters in this novel; Winnie Louie, Pearl Louie Brandt, Helen Kwong, Auntie Du, Jimmy Louie, Wen Fu, Phil Brandt, Cleo
Brandt, Tessa Brandt, Samuel Louie, Henry Kwong, Bao-nao, San Ma, New Aunt, Old Aunt, and Peanut. However, the major characters are Winnie Louie and Pearl
Louie Brandt who are also the narrators of the novel. The other minor characters are presented to support the analysis.
The Kitchen God’s Wife is a novel which tells a story about a Chinese
immigrant woman who faces many difficulties in her life. She is Winnie Louie, a woman whose character is most influenced by Chinese culture. This novel tells
her relationship with many people, but the most important relationship which is being analyzed here is her relationship with her daughter, Pearl. Winnie has some
difficulties in maintaining her relationship with Pearl Louie Brandt whose character is most influenced by American culture. Their relationship is not in
harmony. The cultural backgrounds differences affect their relationship. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
